Tobias Center for Innovation in International Development

The Tobias Center for Innovation in International Development supports undergraduate and graduate students pursuing internship experiences related to international development. Internship fellows can receive up to $3000 for remote internships and $5000 for in person internships to support expenses related to their internship including travel, lodging and meals. Apply for Summer 2024 scholarships by the priority deadline of March 28. Applications received after March 28 will be reviewed on a rolling basis until May 1 and are subject to fund availability.

Our final session for the Localization and MERL Workshop in Washington D.C., will be “ Advancing academia, MERLing the MER”. This session of the workshop will focus on the academy, surface evidence gaps, and discuss how faculty and researchers across the Global North and South can collaborate to mitigate risks and maximize the opportunities for localization through utilizing data and AI in MERL, make durable partnerships, engage students, publish and disseminate research. This intimate workshop has limited space for audience members. To inquire about attending (free of charge), please contact tobiasdv@iu.edu. 

Our third session for the Localization and MERL Workshop in Washington D.C., will be “ Inclusion and diversity in localizing MERL”. Broad-based equity and inclusion in development has also emerged as another priority in development and is an important factor in optimizing localization and MERL. This session will explore designing MERL and doing localization that targets women, youth, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities.  Building on best practices, this session will also discuss the specific considerations in safeguarding these specific groups. This intimate workshop has limited space for audience members. To inquire about attending (free of charge), please contact tobiasdv@iu.edu. 

Our second session for the Localization and MERL Workshop in Washington D.C., will be “Best Practices in Localization M-E-R-L”. This session will bring out the evidence and help move from theory to practice, including with concrete, project examples from the ground.  Specific design and delivery questions we’ll aim to answer include for example: How to make space for and center locally produced knowledge; how to build and strengthen localization infrastructure to improve MERL; what to do when local knowledge does harm and how to mitigate risks; how to enable and engage host country independent consultants. This intimate workshop has limited space for audience members. To inquire about attending (free of charge), please contact tobiasdv@iu.edu. 

The Randall L and Deborah F Tobias Center for Innovation in International Development Annual Research Symposium showcases the research and work of faculty and students across campus. This event is designed to facilitate community among IU scholars and practitioners interested in the study of international development. Join us to celebrate research, internships, and professional development supported by the Tobias Center over the past year. RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/gG4QpDpf

The Tobias Center for Innovation in International Development at the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies at Indiana University will convene a full-day workshop on localization in sustainable development monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL). The first session will be, “Understanding the localization and Merl Landscape”. During this session participants will explain the rationale for and define localization, unpack the nexus with MERL, and explore how factors like culture or corruption come into play.  We’ll outline key challenges to localizing MEL and discuss measuring progress on localization as well as maximizing aid effectiveness through localization and MERL. This intimate workshop has limited space for audience members. To inquire about attending (free of charge), please contact tobiasdv@iu.edu.

Both localization and evidence have gained currency and become central to the policy and practice of international development among public and private donors and implementers alike. As part of its interest to help determine how best to assist countries in need while fostering their self-sufficiency --- the Tobias Center for Innovation in International Development at the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies at Indiana University will convene a full-day workshop on localization in sustainable development monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL). The workshop will comprise facilitated, interactive roundtable conversations with featured speakers along with keynote remarks covering several leading themes in the study and practice of development. The forum will bring together scholars, experts, practitioners and policymakers to share and discuss evidence and insights, identify gaps and outline opportunities for further research and collaboration. HLS student rapporteurs will summarize the deliberations into a workshop brief. This intimate workshop has limited space for audience members. To inquire about attending (free of charge), please contact tobiasdv@iu.edu.

Along with our sponsors, The Hamilton Lugar School and Center for the Study of Global Change, we are excited to present “Working with the World Bank” with HLS Alum ‘18, Karis Neufeld! Hear about Neudel’s professional journey after graduation and how she ended up freelancing with the World Bank. This event will take place on Thursday, November 14th at 5:00pm at the Ferguson International Center 421. Light refreshments will be provided! Register at: https://lnkd.in/gtHknQ5u

Introducing our last fall research assistants and faculty member: Molly Rosenberg and Erika Beidelman! The Randall L. and Deborah F. Tobias Center for Innovation in International Development issues calls for Research Assistance Fellows Program each fall and spring. The Research Assistance Fellows Program provides IU Bloomington students with opportunities to engage in collaborative research with faculty about international development. 

Grant Morgan is a graduate student at HLS who is pursuing a MIA with a specialization in security, diplomacy, and governance. Morgan is originally from a small town in Southern Illinois and has lived all his life in the Midwest. Morgan is engaged with a policy-relevant scholarship, mapping Chinese SOEs’ global infrastructure investments that has a direct connection with the Center's research cluster around China and International Development. Morgan assisted Professor Leuert by helping to prepare a detailed literature review for the Rand Corporation. The review was focused on China's domestic political economy, its current problems, and its possible implications for Chinese foreign policy. Recently, the Tobias Center provided traveling funding to support Morgan’s participation in RAND’s October 11th workshop, “A Conversation for the China Research and Policy Community.” We were pleased that Morgan’s research under the direction of Professor Wendy Leutert was featured at the workshop